Live updates for Staffordshire and Cheshire have finished for the day but we'll be back from 08:00 Thursday with the latest news, sport, travel and weather.

Tim Wedgwood
BBC Local LIve

Homeless people have today been removed from a Stoke-on-Trent cycle hub by police officers.

Staffordshire Police, external says it is reclaiming the shelter for public use in response to concerns from local businesses. 

Officers say the city council, external hub on Old Hall Street hasn't been used for its proper purpose for the past few months, and it's been at the centre of a lot of anti-social behaviour.  

Jennifer Meierhans
BBC News Online

A mother accused of murdering her 21-month-old daughter told social services "to just take her away", a court heard.

Kathryn Smith was told Ayeeshia Jane Smith would be taken into care if she continued to see "abusive" Joshua Collier, whose baby she aborted.

Ayeeshia died at her home in Burton-upon-Trent, Staffordshire, when her heart was torn by a forceful stamp, a jury was told.

Ms Smith and her partner Matthew Rigby, 22, both from Nottingham, deny murder.

The trial continues.

Crewe Chronicle

Cheshire police have warned of an increase in reports of a scam, external involving bogus phone calls.  

BBC Midlands Today

There's been a mixed reaction here in the Midlands to George Osborne's eighth Budget.  

Some business leaders welcome his cuts in business taxes. Others are disappointed he said so little about the political and spending powers to be devolved to the new combined authority. 

Our Political Editor Patrick Burns will have a full round up on Midlands Today tonight from 18:30 on BBC One.

Dan Wheeler
BBC Sport

Fit-again defender Harry Davis says he is doing his best to enjoy the challenge of trying to keep Crewe Alexandra in League One.

Image source, Empics

After seven months out with a knee injury, Davis, 24, is back in the thick of the action with the Alex 23rd in the table, seven points from safety.  

John Acres
BBC Radio Stoke

There were puppies in the library at Staffordshire University this afternoon, to help the students relax.

The guide dogs were in the Cadman Building on the Stoke-on-Trent campus.

The university says the event was arranged so students could "chill out" ahead of assignment deadlines, external. 

Monica Rimmer
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke

The sun's come out in Staffordshire and Cheshire this morning and these are a couple of the many photos our BBC Weather Watchers have sent in.

This first one's from Videoman in Leek.

Image source, videoman

And this second one of a river in Cheadle's been uploaded by Frankie.

You can be one of our Weather Watchers by signing up on the BBC website.

Image source, frankie

Patrick Burns
Political editor, Midlands

"Youth unemployment is falling fastest in the West Midlands."

This was George Osborne's opening salvo in a Budget statement designed to show that his much-vaunted rebalancing of the economy is fast materialising.

In my view it was a more cautious, cagey Budget than you would have expected at this stage in the electoral cycle. You can't afford to upset too many people when your majority is just 12.

You can read more of my thoughts including who I think benefits and why on the BBC website in my latest blog post.

BBC News England

The nightclub has fallen out of fashion so much that it is no longer viewed as statistically significant by the Office for National Statistics. What happened, asks Chris Stokel-Walker on the BBC Magazine website. 

Image source, iStock

In 2005 there were 3,144 night clubs across the country, according to the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR). Last year, there were just 1,733.  

People in Staffordshire will know the Zanzibar nightclub in Newcastle-under-Lyme's been shut for at least 10 years - the well-known Place nightclub in Stoke-on-Trent went decades ago.

Ros Chimes
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

A sheep farmer in Staffordshire is urging dog owners to keep their pets on leads, especially during lambing season.

It comes as the NFU Mutual insurance group says dog attacks on farm animals cost the industry £1.1m in 2015, external through lost livestock. 

The organisation says it estimates over 18,500 livestock were killed or injured in such incidents last year.

Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

These are among Staffordshire and Cheshire's main stories this evening:

- A man's needed hospital treatment after suffering a "vicious and unprovoked attack", external in Burton, police say  

- Homeless people have today been removed from a Stoke-on-Trent cycle hub by police officers

- Shoppers in Stafford have told BBC Radio Stoke they have been left confused by a spelling mistake in a new shop sign   

Rebecca Wood
BBC Midlands Today

The latest forecast for Staffordshire and Cheshire can also be found on the BBC website.

BBC Radio Stoke Sport

Port Vale striker JJ Hooper has praised manager Rob Page's work in developing him as a player., external

Image source, Port Vale FC

Hooper scored his second goal for the club, after coming on as a substitute, in Saturday's 3-2 win at Peterborough.

He told BBC Radio Stoke that he's fit and ready to start, should he be chosen.

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

This week has certainly felt like spring is in the air and Duncan Richardson's picture from Audley today seems to back this up - crocuses in flower.

Image source, Duncan Richardson

Have you taken a picture showing spring in Staffordshire and Cheshire? If so and you want to share it, send it in on email, Twitter , externalor Instagram, external.

Lichfield Mercury

A man is being quizzed by police after a heavy goods vehicle was reported driving the wrong way down the M6 Toll , externalnear Lichfield.

Image source, CMPG

Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

Bars of gold have been stolen, external during a burglary in Staffordshire.

Image source, Google

Staffordshire Police say the break in at a house on Old Eaton Road, Rugeley, was discovered on Monday when the owners returned from a long weekend break. 

High-value watches, spare keys to the couple's cars and a necklace were also taken, after the back door of the house was forced open.

James Bovill
Political reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

A Stoke-on-Trent MP has called for a new bypass to relieve traffic in the city. 

Labour's Rob Flello, external says he wants a route to connect the M6 and M1 without disrupting the city's local roads. 

He's written to the chancellor, George Osborne, asking for a feasibility study for a project similar to the M64 plan which was scrapped in the 1970s, external. 

It looks like today's sunny spells have spread to Tatton Park in Cheshire.

Burton Mail

Children have said it has broken their hearts that an arsonist targeted their school, external and destroyed play equipment.

Image source, Burton Mail